Post-Prostate Surgery Management
If you and your doctor have selected a surgical treatment for your prostate disease, it’s important to know that it can affect your lifestyle in many ways. Individual reactions will vary depending on the disease and the procedure, but following are some general side effects you should watch for during your recovery period following prostate surgery and report to your medical team if they are severe or bothersome.
- Incontinence — An inability to control urination, and especially urge incontinence, can occur after surgery.
- Impotence — An inability to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual penetration. In many cases this issue resolves on its own with time.
- Blood in your urine — Blood may appear in the urine during the first few weeks after transurethral surgery. The bleeding usually stops with a short period of bed rest and drinking fluids. Contact your doctor if you feel discomfort, your urine contains numerous blood clots, or your urine is so red that you cannot see through it.
- Urination discomfort and urgency — Urine will pass over the surgical wound after the
catheter is removed, and this may cause a sensation of urgency or some discomfort or a burning sensation when you urinate.
Your medical team is the best source of information about your particular treatment. You should notify them if any of these side effects are severe or bothersome.
Before resuming any normal activities, be sure to talk with your doctor. Many men try to do too much at the beginning of their recovery period and then experience a setback. Following are some suggestions that may help with your recovery:
- Do not drive or operate machinery.
- Do not lift any heavy objects.
- Eat a well-balanced diet to prevent constipation. Ask your doctor if you can take a laxative if constipation occurs.
- Try not to strain when moving your bowel.
- Drink a lot of water (up to eight cups a day) to help flush out the bladder.
Also, find some practical tips to help you manage your condition before, during and after treatment:
